Ansari calls for global mechanism against militancy

Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, who is leading an Indian delegation to the 54-nation Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth, Australia, on Thursday called for an international mechanism to combat the scourge of militancy.

Speaking to reporters onboard his special aircraft, Ansari said there was increasing realisation for such a measure as more nations are being affected by it.

"Yes, absolutely, I think terrorism is no longer an issue that India raises because a great many countries in the world are affected by terrorism. What we have been saying for over 20 years is that there is need for an international mechanism to the check scourge of terrorism. It is now being increasingly realised. So, in all such meetings, I mean, a question of united action against terrorism does come up," Ansari told reporters accompanying him on the visit.

Referring to Pakistan, Ansari said New Delhi was not concerned with Islamabad's relations with other countries.

"We are concerned with our own relationship with Pakistan on which we are doing steady work. Now what Pakistan's relations with other countries are, is their business," added Ansari.

Ansari later landed in Perth to attend the 54-nation CHOGM Summit from October 28 to 30.

India is the largest member of the Commonwealth and has nearly 60 per cent of its total population.

It is presently the fourth largest contributor to the Commonwealth's assessed budgets and the fifth largest contributor to the voluntary Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC), which is used for providing technical assistance and capacity-building to its developing member states. By Mrityunjay Singh